Reading the “tweet” that brought me here, I thought the atheists had won the lottery for this coming Christmas, and the city had decided to drop the displays rather than letting them erect one. I was all set to wonder whether there would be another lottery next year, and displays would be allowed if the results were less secular.

I’m surprised the atheists won so many of the open spots last year, but I won’t speculate on how that might have happened. I’m also surprised that the churches which wanted to erect displays this year didn’t have several members of each congregation participate in the lottery, insuring that the atheists would be lucky to get even one of the open spots.

Anyway, the decision to keep all displays on private land, and leave this particular park open for the homeless to spread their sleeping bags, was the right one.

Annie

Good news! On private land, where they belong. Well done, Santa Monica atheists!

Not to mention that it looks pretty gross having caged in areas all over a park.

Blairbeartyme

As an atheist I’m not a fan of the nativity scene but I still celebrate Christmas as a time to be with family and eat ridiculous amounts of food and exchange presents. Why can’t neutral decorations be allowed? Or, well….crap I don’t know how to come up with a perfect plan either but getting rid of all public Christmas (or Hanuka, or Kwanzaa, or whatever) decorations just seems sad some how. I LIKE that time of year, despite it having no religious implications for me or my family, and I miss the sparkle and magic when it’s no longer allowed in public.

Grichardt

This is reminiscent of Hendersonville, Tennessee’s actions after the Pastafarions decided to put up a Xmas season FSM display since any religion could. Once was enough then Hendersonville banned all religious displays on public property.

I guess its fair decision. but it’s really hard to see traditional things being taken away. As a Catholic it bothers me. But i can see the point they are making. Still doesn’t make it easy to accept.

Keith

If I remember correctly, the atheist group gamed the system by flooding the lottery with entries. In previous years the city only received entries from the religious groups, so there was really no competition.

I’d bet a dollar that this isn’t over yet, and that before Christmas someone is going to raise hue and cry at a meeting, demanding that the board revise the policy yet again so that the Nativity scene can still be in the park.

I think it would be based on the Rosenberger v. UVA decision. Allowing only “neutral” decorations and prohibiting religious decorations would be prohibited infringement of Free Speech rights, discriminating based on whether there was sectarian religious content.

Mind you, I consider that one of the most incoherently reasoned decisions the court has put out, but we’re kind of stuck with the ruling for the moment.

Because apparently the Christians didn’t understand how a simple lottery works… and the atheists assumed they did, and played accordingly.

Hesse

Tradition is the enemy of progress, and progress is the enemy of tradition. As an Atheist, it bothers me that I have to hear and see everyone’s beliefs, unquestioned, and I’m not supposed to say anything.